Boyzone
heartthrob Stephen Gately decided to put an "end to the
rumours" this week by announcing that he is gay. "I
think the moment is now right to tell the world who I really am,"
he said.

Dublin-born
Stephen, 23, revealed in a newspaper interview that he first
realised he was gay at 15 and has been in a relationship with his
26-year-old Dutch boyfriend, Eloy de Jong, since last November.

In
the interview, he told the Sun: "This is the hardest thing I
have ever had to do but I owe it to our fans - as well as to
myself - to be completely honest.

I
know it will come as a bombshell to many of our followers. Many
of them will be upset. I only hope they understand how important
it is for me to reveal that I am gay."

Stephen
went on to explain he has decided to tell the truth after hearing
that someone who had worked with Boyzone in the past was about to
sell the story to a newspaper.

"I
wanted my fans to hear the facts from me and Eloy before anyone
else got the chance to publish a twisted version of the truth,"
he said.

Stephen
added that since joining the band in 1993 he has "not been
able to relax and be myself" and "never, ever denied
being gay."

The
dark-haired pop star 'came out' to the newspaper with the full
support of band members Ronan, Shane, Keith and Mikey as well as
all his family. He said that Eloy, a former member of European
boyband Caught In The Act, has been accepted into the band's
close-knit group of wives and girlfriends.

"They
have all been brilliant," he said. "Eloy gets on really
well with everyone."

Before
Stephen confided in his family he admitted he was incredibly
lonely. "I remember one morning waking up and feeling so
depressed that I thought about running away - giving it all up."

He
went on to give this special message to his fans: "I want to
reassure them that this will not affect Boyzone. We'll be around
for years to come. I'm stil the same Stephen, still singing the
same songs. You have been with us through thick and thin. Now I
need you to be there for me."